ARGUS

I remember that only a few years back Argus had almost a 4.5/5 rating on this site and since I'm always on a lookout for new exciting music it was almost given that this album would make it into my collection at one point or another.

Before buying the CD in 2008 I asked several of my friends about their experience with Wishbone Ash. Most of them described the band as a relatively faceless rock band of its time which also was presumably reflective in the nature of their compositions. Having already been burned once by Blue Öyster Cult I had some reservations at first, but the overwhelming amount of praising reviews that this album received convinced me to play with fire for one more round!

I can't say that I was too happy when I heard Time Was for the first time, surely the music would get better towards the end of this album? After all, most of the reviewers here recognized that the album's last two compositions, Warrior and Down The Sword, were the definite highlights. Therefore I marched on only to experience one disappointment after the other. The music on Argus is classic '70s rock with a strong acoustic flavor which I generally enjoy, especially when it's fused with strong melodies and memorable delivery, but it all felt very generic here.

It's not that these compositions are bad or flawed in any way. I just don't find them all that enjoyable and since there isn't any real progressive complexity in neither the instrumental nor the lyrical themes there's just nothing left here for me to cheer about. Maybe it's one of those albums that had to be experienced in the '70s to truly comprehend? Still, this wouldn't really justify anything considering that classic albums by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin still manage to find new audiences even today.

Wishbone Ash's highest rated release is nothing more than a good, but non-essential album. If you haven't heard it in the '70s then you should probably stay away all together.

**** star songs: Time Was (9:42) The King Will Come (7:06) Warrior (5:53) Down The Sword (5:55)

*** star songs: Sometime World (6:55) Blowin' Free (5:18) Leaf And Stream (3:55)